Notching device



IgQ3O, 1932. lE, FALCKE 1,875,229

NoncHING DEvIcE v Filed Nov. l, 1928 Inventor-z Emil. FaLcKe,

His Attorney.

Vlz'aicented Aug. 30, v1932 .iarnn or-Ficr.

EMILFALGKE; on BERLIMGERMANY, AssieNon To GENERAL nLncrnic COMPANY, A

CORPORATION F NEW YORK Norciiiiie nnvion My invention relates to notching devices 'I' for controlling the operation of a movable member between a plurality of positions and the object is to insure inore effective notching action of such devices.

In electrical switching apparatus having contact parts rotatable about an axis between a plurality of switching positions, such for example as rotary'switches, switching drums and the like, it is customary to provide notching devices in order to make the definite switch positions perceptible to the operator.

The ordinary form of notching device consists of a spring` pressed roller and a disc '7:15 provided with notched recesses. The notched recesses on the disc are so arranged that when the spring pressed roller enters the notch and has reached its lowest position, the rotatable switching member occupies one of its definite v:'20 switch positions in which the switching device can be held without danger of arcing or burning at the contacts. Thus the notching device serves to show to the operator through the marked variations in operating torque ::;3325 that the switching apparatus is in the proper switching position.

In certain cases, for example in the case of switches controlled by cam drums, these well- I known notch arrangements are not sufficient i '30 vfor sure operation, because the pressure of the cam switching mechanism in different positions allows additional torques to act on the switch shaft wliich may either aid or retard the torque applied by the operator. In such cases the well-known forms of notching de-` vices do not function satisfactorily and it frequently happens that the desired switch posiwhich with progressive penetration of the roller into the notch, in spite of the spring losing tension, produces an increased pressure on the roller. In this way the notching action is accentuated so as to be readily perceived 1 by the operator.

i Application filed November 1, 1928, Serial No. 316,554, and in Germany January 7, 1928. i

In the accompanying drawing a preferred form of notching device embodying the invention is illustrated in connection with an electric controller. Fig. 1 is a front View of lthe controller with the casing broken away to show the arrangement of the notching de- Vvice and Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating more in detail theV operating parts of the notching mechanism.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the controller 10 is shown of the cam type having a plurality of definitevcircuit controlling positions and having a casing wall 11 oii which a bearing bracket l12 is niounted. vIn the latter is pivotally mounted the notching pawl 13 carrying the roller 14. The notching pawl 13 is biased by the spring 17 int-o engagement with the notched disc 15, which is fixed on the rotatable shaft 16 of the controller. In this way the notching pawl cooperates with the notched disc to vary the force required to move the controller 10 to and from its defi- .nite position. In order to bring the force of thebiasing spring 17 into action on the notching pawl 13, a toggle lever system 18 is provided which consists of two levers. One

end of these levers pivotally engages with the. notching pawl 13 and the other end is rotatably secured in a bearing bracket 19 on the casing 11. Atthe central connection of the two toggle levers, a spring plate 20 is provided with which the biasing spring engages.

T hus upon a rotary movement of the shaft 16 the roller on` the notching pawl 13 enters into a notch of disc 15 and due to the leverage transformation ratio of the toggle levers 18- varying with progressive movement, 'the speed of entry of the roller is reduced, butH on the other hand the effective bias of spring* 17 is correspondingly increased, so that the pressure on the roller in its lowest position is greatest, in spite of the fact that Vthe com- .pression of the spring 17 is reduced and hence delivers less actual i pressure to the toggle levers 18.

Care must of coursev be taken that the toggle levers 18 do not reach the full straight vened position, but always remain at an angle 1 on the side adjacent the' spring, so that onv a* i further-rotation of theshaftl the i'oller 14 i f can again' be withdrawn from the notch with a corresponding hendingv of the levers 18 and a. compression of the spring 17. Thev notch e' itselfmay serve as a stop for theilevers 18, f or 'if desired a fixed stop '21; Inay'also be provd'edrin Lorder to -ma1nta1n the ;toggle levers 18 'at an angle so that, after a long' of (operation of the device is nsured. f

'- -Whi1e the preferred 'meetenieeiev-embeeul i ment of the invention has'been illustrated V V: adopted Without departing :from the scope :of the kinvention-as set 'GllHlSa e r I What/I claim as new and desire Ito secure and describednit Will be understoodA .that various changes and modifications `Imay be forth in the appended `byLetters Patentof the United States, is

'my hana this: 'wth-dey EMIL mrolfir o "In vvitness vvhereof, have'hereunto set upon the pawl asjthe ,',paiwl' enters` the l fssf.,

VA`1-1 .A-notchingdevice-for rotatalole,electric` v Switches having al plurality Vof. definite positijons comprising a disc having notches in :the

`periphery thereof, .a movablepaivlfor coop- M .eratingiiviththe notches in said disc to main- -tain'the retatableelectric switch ineach of i Is'aiddefinite positions, a spring forbiasing g ;the paWl into engagement with said notches,

and la toggle leverxinechanism connected Iat one end'with said paWl-and at, thefother end' with 'a fixed support andV at the vcenter Withfsaidfispring Whereby the biasing 'force -fof the spring exerted upon the opaw-Lis in-' creased when the Vpavvl enters each notch i 2. Inscombination, a member movableibetween ;a plurality of' definite positions and I having ::notches vtherein corresponding to-fl fsaid positions, a notc'hing pawl ,cooperatng f 40''f'ivfvfitlrsai'cl notches to' vary the forcereqnired to 'move'the member to and from said posi-' tions, and .means forbiasing the v'pavvl Vinto -"engagementwiththe:notches in said movable Vinemioer,,=sa1d bia'sng means nclidng means v 4for increasing the bias When the pawlenters a'notch:

i Incombinatioma switch element movable"betWeena-fplurality of definite circuit Acontrolling positions, a member movable therervith and .providedwith notches therein v corresponding vto said positions,, a notching pawl cooperatn'gV with -said 'notches to lvary the 'force yreqiire'dl to move the switch element '-to' andV fromsaid circuit controlling positions, ;fa'espring for ;biasing the pawl into eng-age. 'fiment ivith the notches insaid member, and -meclmnisinifor controlling the biasingfforce wofsaid spring '-to increasethebias When the I pawlentersanotch., I

'34. i fnotchingfdevice for controllers rotata i 'wwable between` a fiplrality of definite circuit' controlling positions, comprisingrarotatable o ;member having notches in the Vloeripl-ery Vthereof 'corresponding to said definitecircuit .controlling positions, a notchinig' pawl coozperating with said noit'ches vto J vary the'fiforce c. yiso 

